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The Ballard County Elementary School site-based decision-making council has named Stephanie M. Wood as its successful candidate for principal.

Wood has been assistant principal at Lone Oak Intermediate School since 2015, and has served as the school’s curriculum specialist since 2014. She began her career as a special education teacher at Reidland Elementary School in 1996, and also taught second, third and fourth grade regular classrooms in her tenure there until 2014.

Wood was offered and accepted the job on May 5; her first full year on the job officially will begin on July 1, 2017.

“I’m just excited to get started,” Wood said. “Ballard County Elementary is already a distinguished school, but that does not mean that there isn't more success to be achieved."

Wood said that taking a new school at Lone Oak Intermediate to a distinguished school had a lot to do with quality of instruction, and a lot to do with building morale for teachers, parents, and students. “If students, parents, and teachers are happy, a school will be more productive," she said. They instituted things like a Hard Work Café, to reward students who’d gone above and beyond. These students are able to enjoy lunch is a 1950s-style diner while getting to watch movies and play on a Wii game machine.

Another big project at LOI was the E-Fair, where all 250 fifth-graders researched products, came up with their own business plans, and produced a product for sale. Third- and fourth-graders came into the gym to shop, and the event raised over $7,000 to be used for field trips and other class projects.

One of Wood’s responsibilities was mentoring student teachers and interns. “I loved watching them grow, and coming in with fresh ideas. It helps us older teachers keep current in all areas, especially technology.”

Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in special education K-12/regular education K-6 from Murray State University, and a master's degree in administration, also from MSU.

Ballard Superintendent Casey Allen said, “The BCES council worked very hard and considered every applicant with diligence. I’m proud of the effort they put into this work, and Mrs. Wood is going to be a wonderful addition to the BCES family and the Ballard County administrative team.”

Wood’s husband, Michael, is an agriculture teacher at McCracken County High School. They have five sons, ranging in age from 13 to 29, a daughter-in-law, and one grandson. They raise goats, cattle, hogs and hay on their family farm.